JPH10328301A - Drip infusion annunciator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily set a detection timing of a water level in a drip infusion container while achieving a proper and accurate notification by monitoring from outside the container. SOLUTION: The drip infusion annunciator 1 comprises a sensor 3 mounted on the outside of a drip liquid container and an annunciating section 2 to makes an annunciation by either sound or light about a drop in the level of a drip liquid within the container based on a signal outputted from the sensor 3. The sensor 3 is constituted of an electrostatic capacitance type sensor which is provided with plate-shaped electrode plates as opposed to each other on the external side of the drip liquid container while the annunciating section 3 is provided with an annunciation control part to control the annunciation based on an output signal corresponding to an electrostatic capacitance as given when a liquid surface reaches a reference water level which points to the lower end position of the electrode plates as the limit of a detection range to secure a specified detection sensitivity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drip alarm which detects and reports a drop in the liquid level in a container, and more particularly to a drop detector which reliably detects a drop in the water level regardless of the type of drip, the type of the container, and the attached water droplets on the inner surface of the container. The present invention relates to a drip alarm that can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a medical infusion apparatus, it is necessary to switch the container or to perform a removal operation in a timely manner with a decrease in the amount of liquid, and it is inevitable that the burden of monitoring on the nursing side by visual inspection or the like is inevitable. . In order to reduce this burden, a drip alarm that issues an alarm based on a signal from a sensor capable of detecting a drop in the liquid level in the container is used. Generally, the content of the container is determined by using a weight sensor, an optical sensor, or the like. A decrease in the amount of liquid can be detected without contact with the liquid.

[0003]

However, in the case of using a weight sensor, the adjustment corresponding to the weight of the container is inevitably performed, and the detection accuracy is lowered as the content is reduced. Malfunctions due to irregularities in the refractive index due to thickness, water droplets adhered to the inner surface, etc. are unavoidable, so that their application range is limited and careful handling has been required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to easily set a liquid level detection position, and to reliably detect a drop in the liquid level without being affected by the drip liquid, the type of container, or water droplets attached to the inside of the container. It is to provide a drip alarm which is possible.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a sensor attached to the outside of a drip solution container and a sound, a light, or a light, based on a signal output from the sensor, determine a drop in the drip solution level in the container. In the drip alarm, the alarm is generated by any one of the above. In the drip alarm, the sensor is configured by a capacitance type sensor having a plate-shaped electrode plate facing the outer surface of the drip container, and the alarm is generated. The part has the lower end position of the electrode plate, which is the limit of the detection range that can secure the predetermined detection sensitivity, as the reference water level, and issues the alarm control based on the capacitance when the liquid level reaches this reference water level and the corresponding output signal A drip alarm equipped with an alarm control unit was constructed.

[0006] Since the sensor is constituted by a capacitance type sensor having a flat electrode plate facing the outer surface of the drip liquid container, it is possible to detect a water level fluctuation of the liquid facing the front of the electrode plate, In addition, the alarm unit sets the lower end position of the electrode plate, which is the limit of the detection range capable of securing the predetermined detection sensitivity, as a reference water level, and outputs an output signal corresponding to the capacitance when the liquid level reaches the reference water level. By providing an alarm control unit that performs alarm control based on the alarm, an alarm operation is performed for the reference position. At this time, since the reference position corresponds to the detection limit of the sensor, the level of the liquid surface relative to the reference position is determined. Since the positional relationship corresponds to the presence or absence of the detection sensitivity of the sensor,
Highly accurate and reliable alarm control can be performed without questioning the detection accuracy of the sensor.

[0007] The notification control unit controls the notification with a detection accuracy that can determine the presence or absence of the detection sensitivity irrespective of the type of the drip liquid and the container or the type of the drip liquid and the type of the container. Regardless of the type of attachment of liquid droplets on the inner surface of the container and the shape of the outer surface of the container, common alarm control can be performed.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a drip alarm according to the present invention. The drip alarm 1 includes a box-shaped alarm unit 2 for issuing an alarm, and a capacitance-type sensor unit 3. The sensor unit 3 includes an electrode plate (not shown). Attached to the outer surface of the container, and detachably connected by a connection line 5 via the connector 4 of the alarm unit 2.

The notification unit 2 includes a translucent cover that forms light emitting units 6 and 6 that emit information by blinking light, and a hole that forms a sound generating unit 7 that emits information by sound. A changeover switch 8 for selecting information transmission means by the sound generator 7 and a suspension hook 9 for suspension are provided. The translucent covers of the light-emitting portions 6 and 6 can be secured at both shoulder positions of the alerting portion 2 on the front and rear surfaces, the side surfaces, and the upper surface, and can ensure visibility without generating blind spots.

The changeover switch 8 includes a light emitting section 6 and a sound generating section 7.
, The single operation of the light emitting unit 6 alone, and the stop of the operation are set as options, and any selected operation is set. The hanging hook 9 enables the alarm unit 2 to be installed on a drip stand or the like, in a line with a drip container to be monitored. The flashing of the light emitting unit 6 enables reliable identification when a plurality of drip informing devices are used at the same time.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.
The LED 10 and the like are arranged in the translucent cover of the light emitting unit 6, and the speaker 11 is provided facing the hole of the sound generating unit 7. And a power supply unit 14 such as a dry battery on the back side.
Is provided.

The alarm control unit 12 controls the operation of the LED 10 and the speaker 11 in response to the liquid level lowering signal from the sensor unit 3. After receiving the detection signal of the liquid level drop from the sensor unit 3, the alarm control unit 12 continues the repetitive operation at a constant interval until the changeover switch 8 is stopped. The control form includes various variations such as a case where the repetition interval is gradually shortened and an alarm is issued to prompt a response.

The alarm control unit 12 sets the lower end position of the electrode plate (not shown) as a reference water level, and determines whether detection sensitivity is present regardless of the type of the drip solution and / or the container. The detection accuracy is set to be low.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sensor section of FIG. The electrode plate 3a of the sensor is provided on the outer surface of the drip solution container 21.
When the front side is attached with a band or an adhesive tape (not shown) opposite to the front side, the capacitance between the electrode plate 3a and the upper and lower ends facing the front surface of the electrode plate 3a changes according to the water level in the container. A sensor output with a predetermined accuracy is obtained corresponding to the change in the water level between the sensors. The water level in the container is the electrode plate 3a
When the sensor reaches the upper and lower ends, the sensor output also approaches the respective limits. When the sensor output further exceeds the upper and lower ends, the sensor output becomes substantially constant.

Accordingly, when the water level in the container is between the upper and lower ends of the electrode plate 3a, including the case of the high water level 22 in FIG. 3A and the case of the low water level 23 in FIG. When the water level and the sensor output change correspondingly, and when the water level falls below the lower end position A of the electrode plate 3a as shown in FIG. 3C, the sensor output shows a substantially constant lower limit.

In the above description, when the detection sensitivity of the sensor is set high, the sensor output also changes according to the type of the container or the liquid. However, when the detection sensitivity is set low, the difference becomes small. Is lower than the lower end position A in FIG. 4C, the sensor output is substantially constant regardless of the type of container or liquid.

Therefore, the detection accuracy is set to such a degree that the detection sensitivity can be determined irrespective of the type of the drip solution and the container, and the alarm control is performed based on the sensor output at the lower end position A. When the liquid level reaches the lower end position A, an alarm operation is performed according to the sensor output, regardless of the type of the drip liquid or the container, and the state of the adhesion of the droplet on the inner surface of the container or the outer surface of the container. Regardless, the alarm control can be commonly performed.

As described above, in the drip alarm of the present invention, the sensor section is attached to the side of the container, so that the alarm section issues an alarm when the liquid level is lowered. Since monitoring is possible, it is possible to set a reliable alarm at an appropriate timing while solving the problem of hygiene management of the drip container, reducing the burden of monitoring on the nursing side and reducing patient anxiety. Can be removed.

[0019]

The drip alarm of the present invention has the following effects. Since the sensor is constituted by a capacitance type sensor having a flat electrode plate facing the outer surface of the drip liquid container, it is possible to detect a water level fluctuation of the liquid facing the front of the electrode plate, The alarm unit sets the lower end position of the electrode plate, which is the limit of the detection range capable of securing the predetermined detection sensitivity, as a reference water level, and issues an alarm based on an output signal corresponding to the capacitance when the liquid level reaches the reference water level. By providing an alarm control unit for performing alarm control, an alarm operation is performed with respect to the reference position. At this time, since the reference position corresponds to the detection limit of the sensor, the positional relationship of the liquid surface with respect to the reference position is determined. Since this corresponds to the presence or absence of the detection sensitivity of the sensor, high-precision and reliable alarm control can be performed without questioning the detection accuracy of the sensor.

The alarm control unit controls the alarm with a detection accuracy that can determine the presence or absence of the detection sensitivity regardless of the type of the drip liquid and the container, or the type of the drip liquid and the container. Regardless of the type of attachment of liquid droplets on the inner surface of the container and the shape of the outer surface of the container, common alarm control can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a drip alarm according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the drip alarm of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drip alarm 2 Notification part 3 Sensor part 3a Electrode plate 6 Light emission part (semi-transparent cover) 7 Sound emission part (hole) 12 Notification control part 21 Container 22, 23, 24 Water level A Detection liquid level position (lower end position) )

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sensor mounted outside a drip container,
A drip alarm unit for notifying the drip level of the drip liquid in the container by sound and / or light based on a signal output by the sensor. The alarm unit is constituted by a capacitance type sensor having a plate-shaped electrode plate opposed to the base plate, and the alarming unit uses the lower end position of the electrode plate, which is a limit of a detection range capable of securing a predetermined detection sensitivity, as a reference water level. An infusion alarm comprising: an alarm control unit that performs alarm control based on an output signal corresponding to a capacitance when a liquid level reaches a water level. 2. The alarm control unit performs alarm control with a detection accuracy that can determine the presence or absence of the detection sensitivity regardless of the type of the drip liquid and / or the container. The drip alarm described.